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Sport Nation
Why 2025 will be a greater year for New Zealand sport than the last
Brad Lewis • February 14th, 2025 8:46 am
Yes, I prepared to crow early - on the record - and proclaim from the top of this mountain that our sporting Kiwis will thrive in 2025.
Let’s start with Liam Lawson - the recently turned 23-year-old will partner three-time defending Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull team this season. It’s the toughest job in the sport but Lawson’s pedigree, aggressive driving and confidence in his own ability makes him the perfect choice.
Let’s start with Liam Lawson - the recently turned 23-year-old will partner three-time defending Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull team this season. It’s the toughest job in the sport but Lawson’s pedigree, aggressive driving and confidence in his own ability makes him the perfect choice.
Lawson will win multiple races in 2025 and finish inside the top three in the drivers standings to complete a wonderful debut full-time season and help Red Bull win back the Constructors Championship.
Ryan Fox will win a Major in 2025.
Foxy is one of the good blokes in the New Zealand sporting landscape and deserves any success that comes his way. It just feels like his time is coming, really soon. And a repeat of what Michael Campbell and Sir Bob Charles achieved in their careers will be one of the stories of 2025.
A green jacket? Augusta look out, Foxy is coming for you.
Ryan Fox aced the iconic 17th hole at The Players Championship in 2024
Chris Wood has been scoring goals for fun for Nottingham Forrest this season and the best is yet to come.
By the end of the year, Wood will have captained his country to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scored a goal in the FA Cup final for his victorious club and he’ll notch a hat-trick for Forest in Europe.
Joseph Parker’s career turnaround has not only come as a surprise to some (not this writer), but also proved so many doubters wrong.
Losses to Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce had many writing off the former WBO heavyweight champ - but a new attitude from Parker and a new voice in his ear in Andy Lee has turned the 33-year-old into one of the top four heavyweights in the world at this moment, that is undisputed.
By the end of the year, Wood will have captained his country to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scored a goal in the FA Cup final for his victorious club and he’ll notch a hat-trick for Forest in Europe.
Joseph Parker’s career turnaround has not only come as a surprise to some (not this writer), but also proved so many doubters wrong.
Losses to Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce had many writing off the former WBO heavyweight champ - but a new attitude from Parker and a new voice in his ear in Andy Lee has turned the 33-year-old into one of the top four heavyweights in the world at this moment, that is undisputed.
And with a win over Daniel Dubois later this month, Parker will once again be a world champion (IBF) and by the end of 2025, Parker will challenge and beat Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Photo: Photosport
Finally – the All Blacks.
Now, while some of my colleagues have questioned my loyalty to the national side (ie. Beaver), my passion and love for the jersey is always strong.
Regardless of the state of the game in this country and my thoughts on that, the All Blacks are still a source of pride and my support for them in unwavering.
In 2025, the All Blacks will go unbeaten, Ardie Savea will win the World Rugby player of the year and Scott Robertson will win coach of the year.
A depleted French side will be cast aside, the world champion Springboks will be humbled in Auckland and Wellington, the Wallabies won’t get close, and the Northern Hemisphere will be conquered with a style of rugby we haven’t seen from Razor’s mob yet.
2025 will be a year of sport we Kiwis won’t forget - and if it’s not, at least you’ll have fun at my expense.
In 2025, the All Blacks will go unbeaten, Ardie Savea will win the World Rugby player of the year and Scott Robertson will win coach of the year.
A depleted French side will be cast aside, the world champion Springboks will be humbled in Auckland and Wellington, the Wallabies won’t get close, and the Northern Hemisphere will be conquered with a style of rugby we haven’t seen from Razor’s mob yet.
2025 will be a year of sport we Kiwis won’t forget - and if it’s not, at least you’ll have fun at my expense.
Brad Lewis is the executive producer of Sport Nation's Beaver & Guy - tune in weekdays 3-6pm, find your local frequency here.
